Islamic State’s media official arrested in Baghdad: Ministry

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The Iraqi Defense Ministry has announced arresting the Islamic State member in charge of the militant group’s media in Baghdad.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry said the intelligence department and Baghdad security troops managed to arrest the group’s media official in the so-called Diyala State.

“The militant was at one of the houses in Aadhamiya region, north of Baghdad,” it added.

Last month, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.

Thousands of IS militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition, was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group.

The war against IS has displaced nearly five million people, with tens of thousands of civilians and militants killed since the launch of the offensives to recapture occupied cities.

Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

According to the monthly release by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), a total of 69 civilians, excluding police personnel, were killed, while 142 others were wounded in December due to acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict across the country.